Sandplay is a psychotherapeutic approach that we utilize for children as well as adults. This approach is imaginative and clients have an opportunity to use a variety of figures to create a three-dimensional scene in the sand. The collection of figures/objects are organized in a variety of themes and each figure/object holds symbolism. For example, some themes may include people of various backgrounds, religious figures, nature figures, etc. The scenes are a depiction of the client’s inner and outer worlds.

Whenever we experience distress in an event, situation or relationship it can disrupt or intrude on our typical development and functioning. These experiences can be wounding and the therapist works to create a safe place that allows the client to process their experience. The therapist facilitates a space that is unconditionally accepting and free from judgement or interpretation. The therapist is actively attuned and present to the client’s process. The therapist doesn’t offer judgement or interpretation instead the therapist applies empathy and active listening. The client can choose to share their story verbally or non-verbally and the therapist tracks the changes that unfold from one sandplay picture to the next. Sandplay works with the premise that there is a drive within all of us to heal and move towards a connection with ourselves in a holistic manner. The sandplay experience is contained within the parameters of the sand tray and the counselling experience as a whole. Clients get the opportunity to explore and process their experiences.

From a neurological standpoint the client is able to shift from a cognitive and analytical way of exploration and towards an experience that connects them to their feelings, sensations and inner sense of self. The conscious and unconscious aspects of the clients experience are brought into focus. The client is free to create anything they desire in the scene as there are no rules for how the scene is created or how it looks. Many clients find additional elements of the experience therapeutic such as manipulating the sand in their hands, adding water to the sand and being present in the here and now. These elements are grounding for the client and aspects of nature that are familiar and usually comforting.